Abijah Bruce^[1]

1693 - 1774  (81 years)

• Name	Abijah Bruce  [2]
  Birth	27 Nov 1693	Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA   [2, 3, 4, 5]
  Gender	Male
  Death	2 Dec 1774	Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
  Person ID	I1226	Master
  Last Modified	30 Jun 2018

  
  

  Father	Roger Bruce,   b. 1670, Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA d. 16 Sep 1733, Southborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA (Age 63 years)
  Mother	Elizabeth Forbush,   b. 16 Mar 1669, Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA d. 27 Apr 1746, Worcester, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA (Age 77 years)
  Marriage	1690	Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA   [6, 7, 8]
  Family ID	F772	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Mary Woods,   b. 13 Mar 1686, Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA d. 26 Mar 1775, Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA (Age 89 years)
  Marriage	14 Jan 1719	Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA   [2, 4, 5, 9]
  Children	1. Mary Bruce,   b. 14 Oct 1719, Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA d. 30 Nov 1781, Sutton, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA (Age 62 years)   2. Elizabeth Bruce,   b. 4 Nov 1721, Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA d. 3 Apr 1792, Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA (Age 70 years) + 3. Charles Bruce,   b. 13 May 1723, Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA d. 5 Sep 1757, Grafton, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA (Age 34 years)   4. Ephraim Bruce,   b. 15 Nov 1724, Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA d. 26 Oct 1759, Northboro, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA (Age 34 years)   5. Jonathan Bruce,   b. 4 Sep 1726, Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA d. 24 Feb 1816, Northboro, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA (Age 89 years) + 6. Artemas Bruce,   b. 20 Dec 1728, Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA d. 31 Jul 1811, Newfane, Windham, Vermont, USA (Age 82 years)   7. Abigail Bruce,   b. 2 Jul 1730, Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA d. Yes, date unknown
  Family ID	F771	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	2 Jul 2018

  
  

• Event Map		Birth - 27 Nov 1693 - Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA Marriage - 14 Jan 1719 - Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA Death - 2 Dec 1774 - Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Notes

  In 1719 Lieutenant Abijah Bruce (1698-1774) arrived in Westborough and opened a tavern in the house he built at 210 East Main Street. A soldier in the French and Indian Wars, Bruce served as moderator of town meeting in 1735. As a member of the committee to build the second meeting house in 1749 the innkeeper provided the rum for that building's raising. Abijah Bruce not only worked as a tavern keeper but raised cattle, horses and sheep on his land. He often sold his stock to drovers who stopped at the Bruce Tavern on the way to market. In 1750 the tavern was mortgaged to Captain Stephen Maynard and seems to have ceased business soon after. Abijah Bruce served in the military. Rev Ebenezer Parkman's diary says that Abijah was a Sergeant in Sep 1740 but was an Ensign by Jul 1744. He made Lieutenant Aug 1748 and must have been in Captain Baker's Company as on 11 Oct 1748 Parkman "dined with the south Company Officers - Lt Bruce had the Command by Means of Captain bakers being engag'd as one of the Referrees upon the Case of messers [ William] Nurse and [Cornelius] Cook." Abijah doesn't appear in any Massachusetts Military records but might be found in the Westborough Militia records. To show what the soldiers and even the populace had to contend with during the French and Indian Wars, this July 1745 entry from Parkman's diary is included "Ensign Bruce (who went up to Fort Shirley to bring back his son Jonathan) return'd - and informs that last Friday about 10 a.m. Mr. William Phipps was kill'd by the Indians about 30 Rods from the Garrison at [Putney] (nigh which lives Mr Nehemiah How who went from Grafton) and his body was treated inhumanly, Scalp'd, his Heart taken out, etc." Abijah Bruce was moderator of the town meetings in 1735. In January 1749 some land was bought for the purpose of building a new meeting house in the town of Westboorough. The house was to be fifty feet long by forty feet wide with posts 23 feet high. In April it was ready for raising and accordingly the precinct voted on the 17th "to provide Half a barrel Roum, by the cost and charge of the precinct, for the Raising of the frame of the meeting-house which the precinct voted to build..." Capt. John Maynard, Lieut. Simeon Tainter, and Lieut. Abijah Bruce were voted to be a committee to take care to provide the Roum for raising the frame of the meeting house. Abijah at one time kept a tavern (during the 1750's at least). It was located on the road between Westborough and Marlborough about two miles from the center of Westborough. A letter written by Abijah Bruce, dated at Westborough June 5th, 1772, reads "Whereas my brother David Bruce of Soutb'r is a person Naturally wanting Understanding and not capable of taking care of himself and there being some Estate left by our hon'd Father Roger Bruce late of Said Southb'r Deed for the Support of said David who is not Capable to manage the Same for that purpose, These are to desire your Hon'r to enquire into the truth of the above & appoint Him the said David a Guardian". Signed Abijah Bruce by mark, witnessed by Artemas Bruce and Isaac Johnson. Abijah apparently had a violent temper. in several places in Parkman's diary Abijah is mentioned as having "warm Speech" or answering "Sharply, and coarsely, and asking....with great Anger". An example of his temper is found in the diary from June 1755 when Rev Parkman forgot to mention to the congregation Abijah's desire for prayers for his sick wife. "Lieutenant Bruce came into my House, and the Storm was great, Thunder, Lightening, and Rain. Yet the Storm of Brother Bruce's Passions was more grievous; uttering many bitter grievous Things; neither could I at all lay his Passionate Heat by anything I could Say. he went away talking and in a Rage, notwithstanding it was the Sabbath, and the Storm which Should have Struck Terror, into each of our Hearts. I could not Suffer him to go away in Such a Frame. I put on my Great Coat, and went to the Meeting House, ready to declare it was not with Design that I omitted the Note, but through forgetfullness - as I went I Spake to him at the Stables to Mollifie him - and entreated him and all others that were there to go into the Meeting House; but neither of them did. When I got into the meeting House I was Somewhat out of Breath by my running through the Rain. There were many more in the Meeting House (probably) than I expected; Yet I then conceiv'd it best for the prevention of further Mischief to declare that it was thro my Infirmity and no otherwise that his Case was Neglected; I also mention'd to them the Reason of my coming to Speak of it to them, viz. the violent Anger which he was in, and continued in, though I did all in my Power to Compose and Satisfie him; and that he assur'd me he would never bring me any Papers (to desire Prayers) any more. When I return'd from the Meeting House, he being Still at the Stables, I Stop'd there again and there labour'd to pacifie him; but all was in Vain. So that I left him with telling him that I had done and Said enough (and indeed it was too much) I would not trouble my Self any more. This was a just Chastizement from God upon me, for my own Sloth and Negligence! the Lord be mercifull to me a Sinner! The next day I made it my Business to Visit Mrs. Bruce...As to Lieutenant Bruce, he now receiv'd me civily - no word of yesterday; only when I parted while I had him by the Hand I told him I would not have any Difficulty between him and me, and he answer'd Smiling, ' with all my Heart' ." Abijah apologized a month later to Rev Parkman for his outbursts, " Lieutenant Bruce here and acknowledg'd he did amiss on june 22 and what he said was writ and sign'd". Perhaps Abijah had cause to be angry. His wife Mary remained ill the rest of the year and was very close to death. According to Parkman's diary Abijah died 2 Dec 1774, "Lieut. Bruce dies about 2 o'clock p.m. He was nigh 81, was born Nov.27.O.S. 1693". A later entry for 27 Mar 1775, "Calld at Mr Stone's & desired him, if he should be sent for by those concerned, to attend the Funeral of old Mrs, Bruce, who dyd on ye 26th, aged 88 & one Day". REF: [1] The First Parish Church of Westborough Records [2] The Diary of Rev. Ebenezer Parkman - Francis G. Walett, 1974 [3] Worcester County, MA Probate [4] Westborough Vital records (Bruce births on pg.29) [5] Diary of Reverend Ebenezer Parkman (copied by S.I. Briant in 1906 - in Westborough Public Library) [6] The History of Westborough - Town of Westborough, 1891 Children: 1. Mary, b. Marlborough 4 Oct 1719, bap. 19 Jun 1720, m. Westborough 20 Nov 1740 Simon Tainter 2. Elizabeth, b. Marlborough 4 Nov 1720, bap. 18 Jun 1721, m. Westborough 10 May 1739 Richard Barnes, Jr., b. Marlborough 12 Feb 1716-7 3. Charles, b.[4] Westborough 13 May 1722, m. Westborough 21 Jan 1742-3 Martha Coburn 4. Ephraim, b.[4] Westborough 15 Nov 1724, m. Westborough 5 Oct 1744 Mary Maynard, d. Westborough 13 Jan 1801 Chil.: 1) Zipporah, b. Westborough 7 Feb 1753 5. Jonathan, b.[4] Westborough 4 Sep 1726, m. Westborough 24 May 1749 Hannah Beeman, b. Westborough 23 Apr 1730 6. Artemas, b.[4] Westborough 20 Dec 1728, d. Newfane, VT 31 Jul 1811, m. Westborough 20 May 1756 Mary Latiny, b. abt. 1732, d. Newfane, VT 29 Sep 1811 7. Abigail, b.[4] Westborough 2 Jul 1730, m. Westborough 7 Apr 1752 Merodach Baladan Smith

  
  

• Sources

  [S761] Yates Publishing, Ancestry Family Trees, (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.), Ancestry Family Tree. http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=113533846&pid=6 [S32] Yates Publishing, U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900, (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.), Source number: 224.000; Source type: Electronic Database; Number of Pages: 1; Submitter Code: BCK. (Reliability: 3). Name: Abijah Bruce Birth Date: 1693 Birth Place: http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=worldmarr_ga&h=168171&ti=0&indiv=try [S338] Ancestry.com, Massachusetts, U.S., Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988, (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.). [S910] Ancestry.com, The New England Historical & Genealogical Register, 1847-2011, (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.). [S1133] Ancestry.com, North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000, (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.), Book Title: History of the town of Marlborough, Middlesex county, Massachusetts, from its first settlement in 1. [S58] Heritage Consulting, Millennium File, (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2003.Original data - Heritage Consulting. The Millennium File. Salt Lake City, UT, USA: Heritage Consulting.Original data: Heritage Consulting. The Millennium File. Salt Lake City, UT, USA: ). [S815] Ancestry.com, U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700, (Ancestry.com Operations Inc), Genealogical Publishing Co.; Baltimore, MD, USA; Volume Title: Supplement to Torrey's New England Marriages Prior to 1700. [S386] Edmund West, comp., Family Data Collection - Marriages, (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2001.). [S32] Yates Publishing, U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900, (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.), Source number: 10122.001; Source type: Pedigree chart; Number of Pages: 1; Submitter Code: . (Reliability: 3). Birth date: 1693 Birth place: Marriage date: 1718 Marriage place: http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=worldmarr_ga&h=168170&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt